Arctic trigger



Jan. 12, 1960 A. J. MARHEFKA E 2,920,413

ARCTIC TRIGGER Filed Jan. 27, 1959 IQ -l- INVENTORS, Andrew .lMar'he'FkE BY Irving L.kintish 1 @0434; aaQ mt 2,920,413 Fatented J an. 12, 1960 ARCTIC TRIGGER Andrew Marhefka, Port Morris, N.J., and Irving L. Kintish, Bronx, N.Y., assignors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Application January 27, 1959, Serial No. 789,462 Claims. (Cl. 42-69) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to an Arctic trigger and more particularly to a trigger which is adaptable to wearers of heavy Arctic handwear such as mittens.

The present trigger is especially practical for use on small arms, such as rifles, pistols and the like wherein personnel wearing heavy mittens are handicapped in the firing of the gun due to the awkward bulk of this type handwear.

To remove the mittens in order to fire the weapon will expose the wearer to frostbite.

The present invention is designed to eliminate the aforesaid difiiculties and enable personnel to operate the triggers of small arms while wearing heavy mittens, gloves and like Arctic handwear. This is accomplished by the use of clamp locks which lock on the trigger of a small arm and fit a clip slide assembly which is freely slidable about the trigger guard. A bar having the contour of the trigger guard is hinged to the lower end of the clip slide and held in relative position thereto by a flat spring. The bar may be pivoted to the rear whereupon the wearer squeezes the bar which, using the trigger guard as a fulcrum, causes a rearward force upon the trigger to fire the weapon. When not in use, the bar is pivoted to a forward position. A safety device may be employed to prevent firing of the weapon when the bar is in firing position and consists of a hinged rod with a cut-away sphere. The safety device is housed in a recess in the stock and the cut-away sphere engages the bar when it is in the rear or operating position to prevent rearward movement thereof.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a trigger operating device for a small arm for use by a wearer of heavy Arctic handwear whereby removal of the handwea-r is not necessary in order to operate the trigger thereon.

It is another object to provide a trigger operating device for an Arctic handwearer that can be pivoted into a firing position or a stowed position without removal of heavy handwear.

It is another object that the device of this invention will not disturb the balance nor the firing position of the weapon upon which it is used and yet maintain the accuracy of fire.

It is also an object to provide an Arctic type trigger that cannot be fired accidentally.

A further object is to enable the operator to effect rapid fire from the hip or other non-shoulder positions.

A final object is to provide a trigger attachment for wearers of Arctic handwear that is simple, economical and quickly assembled or detached from a small arm.

The specific nature of the invention, as well as other objects, and advantages thereof, will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

forming part of the specification, in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the trigger area of a weapon, the device of the invention being attached to the trigger and the bar in its operating position, the safety device being down to prevent accidental firing;

Fig. 2 is a similar view, the safety element and bar being in stowed position;

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the elements of the device; and,

Fig. 4 is a detail side view, partly in section and illustrates more clearly the relative position of the operating elements.

In the drawing, Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a portion of a rifle in the area of the trigger mechanism. The stock is indicated by 1, the trigger guard by 2 and the trigger by 3.

The Arctic trigger is best viewed in Figure 3 and consists of a pair of clamp locks 4 and 5 adapted to be fitted about the trigger 3. Clamp locks 4 and 5 have integral ear portions 6, 7, 8 and 9 respectively and are apertured as at 10, 11, 12 and 13 respectively to receive screws 14.

A clip slide to provide an extension to trigger 3 is provided and consists of a pair of elongated members 15 and 16 which are bifurcated at their upper ends as at 17 and 18. Apertures 19 and 20 are provided in the bifurcated ends 17 and 18. Elongated members 15 and 16 are rigidly connected by a rod 21. Bores '22 and 23 are located at the lower ends of members 15 and 16. A flat spring 24 is provided which is bent in undulating form and an operating bar 25, substantially simulating the contour of the trigger guard 2 is provided with a pair of stub shafts 26 and 27 at one end.

The aforesaid elements are assembled as follows:

Clamp locks 4 and 5 are substantially U-shaped at their medial portions and fit snugly about trigger 3 at a suitable location and the bifurcated ends 17 and 18 of the clip slide receive the ears 6, 8, 7 and 9 and screws 14 are inserted through apertures 10, 11, 12, 13 in ears 6, 7, 8 and 9 and apertures 19 and 20 of members 15 and 16 and tightened. Bar 25 is pivotally mounted in bores 22 and 23 of members 15 and 16 and flat spring 24 is positioned between bar 25 and spring guard 2.

In operation, the bar 25 is in the position illustrated in Figure 1 except the safety bar 28 is in folded position as in Figure 2. To fire the gun, the operator grasps the stock and bar with one hand and squeezes, thus causing the trigger guard 2 to act as a fulcrum whereby the trigger is moved rearwardly to fire the gun. When it is desired to stow the bar, it is merely turned forward against the action of spring 24 which then holds it in this position.

A safety mechanism is provided and prevents the bar 25 from being squeezed accidentally while in its firing position. The device consists of a bar 28 having a spherical head 29 which is cut out as at 30 to provide a shoulder. The other end is connected to a spring loaded pivot 31 housed in stock 1. When not in use, the device can be folded into a recess 32 in stock 1. The device can be quickly moved into or out of position even when wearing a mitten due to the cut-out portion 31 which provides a projection easily grasped.

If desired, flanges, tabs, etc. may be formed in bar 25 (not shown) to aid the mittened hand to move the bar more positively.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention,

herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preto, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An Arctic trigger for a firearm including a trigger guard and a trigger, a first member fixed to said trigger, a second downwardly depending member fixed to said first member and a third member pivoted to the lower portion of said second member and rotatable about said trigger guard from a stowed position in front of said trigger guard to an operating position rearward of said trigger guard whereby when said third member is moved in an upward direction, it will cause said trigger guard toact as a fulcrum to cause said third member to move said trigger rearwardly to fire said firearm.

2. An Arctic trigger for a firearm having a' trigger guard and a trigger, a pair of clamp locks fixed to said trigger, a downwardly depending clip slide rigidly fixed to said clamp locks and swingable about said trigger guard, a bar having a contour simulating that of said trigger guard pivotally connected to the lower end 'of said clip slide and a spring disposed between said bar and said trigger guard maintaining said bar in a firing position rearwardly of said trigger guard or a stowed position forwardly of said trigger guard.

3. An Arctic trigger for a firearm having a stock, a trigger guard and a trigger, a downwardly depending clip slide assembly fixed to said trigger, an operating bar pivoted at one of its ends to said clip slide and below said trigger guard, a spring disposed between said bar and said trigger guard, said spring maintaining said bar in a firing position rearwardly of said trigger guard or in a stowed position forwardly of said trigger guard and a safety member pivotally mounted in said stock, said safety member rotatable into a position whereby it pre- 4 vents said operating bar from movement rearwardly to fire said firearm.

4. In an Arctic trigger as claimed in claim 3 wherein said safety member comprises a rod pivotally mounted at one end at a point adjacent the lower edge of said stock, said bar defining a spherical head at its other end, said head being cut out to form a shoulder abutting said bar when said rod is pivoted downward, there being a recess in said stock adapted to receive said safety member when pivoted upward in a stowed position.

5. An Arctic triggering device for a hand fired firearm having a trigger guard and a trigger, a pair of clamp locks fitting rigidlyabout said trigger, each said clamp lock defining a substantially U-shaped medial portion and oppositely extending. apertured ear portions, a clip slide for attachment to said clamp locks and extending below and swingable about said trigger guard comprising a pair of elongated members having bifurcated upper portions for receiving said ear portions on'said clamp locks, there being aligned apertures in each said bifurcated portion, fastening means received in said apertures in said ears and said bifurcated portions for the securement of said clamp locks to said clip slide, a rod rigidly fixed to each said elongated member, said rod being disposed below said trigger guard, an operating bar having substantially the same contour as said trigger guard pivotally connected at one end between the lower ends of said elongated members and an undulated spring member disposed about said rod and between said bar and said trigger guard, said spring maintaining said bar in a stowed position forwardly of said trigger guard.

No references cited. 

